Three Nebraska state college campuses–Wayne, Peru and Chadron State–came together Friday morning to share in a leadership and diversity conference with special guest, president and founder of PINK Consulting, LLC, Phyllis Braxton.

 
The Moss Point, Miss. native journeyed to Wayne America to hold the Student Leadership and Diversity Conference for around 115 students and faculty. Those who attended the event in Gardner Auditorium watched as Braxton fed the room with enthusiastic energy.

 
The 9 a.m. conference started with Student Leadership and Diversity Conference Coordinator and student, Megan Familetti welcoming everyone from the three colleges. Vice president and dean of students for WSC, Dr. Jeff Carstens followed Familetti’s welcome with, “Glad you all could make it today. We decided to start off in Gardner and save some travel time and have students interact with different students. A day away from class, but not a day away from learning,” Carstens said.

 
He then introduced Braxton as the main speaker.

 
“You are probably used to speakers behind podiums, but that’s not how I do my presentations. I’ll be walking and engaging you around the room,” Braxton said. “You may have questions throughout today’s presentation, but I’m going to tell you a lot before and answering questions that you may be thinking before you even ask.”

 
Braxton made sure her goal of “I’m here for you, and you’re learning,” was the main point of her speech. She also encouraged the intermingling of the three student bodies, ensuring that everyone could interact with everyone else.

 
“I believe when people are laughing, they are connecting,” Braxton said as she got the groups together.

 
The smiling faces of the audience was all the confirmation she needed.

 
After Braxton’s welcoming statements, three other “breakout” sessions followed throughout the day. In the second session, Peru State students Marissa Gomez and Janessa Davis spoke about diversity questions and what it means to live with diversity as a student.

 
“I want to give a better explanation of diversity to you,” Gomez said.

 
Around 17 students and faculty were in the Bluestem room 111 of the student center listening to the pair of Peruvians.

 
“All three colleges coming together is great. We can help fix this problem of diversity together,” Student of Peru State College, Millie Anderson said.

 
During that session in the Bluestem room, Gomez stated facts and asked tough questions. She asked one along the lines of “What is the percentage of bisexuals or gays being refused care in hospitals” and gave the audience three possible answers; 10 percent, 15 percent or 52 percent. The room of 17 was shocked to learn that the largest option, 52 percent, was correct.

 
In the last 20 minutes, Gomez and Davis talked about their lives growing up. Gomez, who is a mix of Mexican, Filipino, Chinese and White, talked about her Omaha education experiences saying, “I came from a school with only one or two white students.”

 
She could recall people staring at her or hear them whispering about her when she walks by.

 
Gomez said that doesn’t phase her anymore, but she wishes people would just accept different cultures for who they are.

 
Davis, who is president of the Black Student Union on the Peru campus, had an interesting story to tell as well. Her family is a mix of black and white. She has two biological siblings who are white while others in her family are different shades.

 
“My sister is as pale as they come. She has red hair and people can’t believe that we are sister and sister, because I’m dark and she is light which people don’t think can happen apparently,” Davis said.

 
She then switched topics to interracial dating, with her boyfriend in the audience.

 
“We do get stared at sometimes. It’s kind of understandable, because that the way it’s always been. People are judgmental when it comes to this sometimes,” Davis said. “One day I believe we are all going to be the same shade or color because of so many mixes between races that is occurring.”

 
From Braxton’s opening remarks to the speakers of the breakout sessions, the conference could be seen widely as a success. Students not only got a chance to mingle with the other campus’ students, but also got the opportunity to realize the problems of diversity, homosexuality and leadership are a part of this world we live in.

 
“Why not just accept them for who they are as them,” Gomez said.